Scorchers depth tested with Tye sidelined for BBL|09

The Perth Scorchers have been dealt a massive blow with confirmation seamer AJ Tye will miss up to four months following elbow surgery.

The 32-year-old seamer, renowned for his death bowling and numerous variations, ruptured the medial ligament in his right elbow during a routine fielding drill ahead of Australia's opening T20 international of the summer in October.

He had surgery in Sydney on November 4 with a minimum recovery time expected to be three months, but Scorchers coach Adam Voges is hopeful a key component of his bowling line-up remains an outside chance to return for the latter stages of the KFC Big Bash League season.

A revised five-game finals system that introduces a double-chance for the top two teams begins on January 30.

"It's never nice to lose any player to injury, but someone as experienced and well liked as AJ is a big blow for us," Voges said.

"I'm confident we have the depth to cover AJ and hopefully fans will see him in action at The Furnace towards the end of the Big Bash."

WACA Sports Science Sports Medicine Manager Nick Jones said the early signs in Tye's recovery from surgery had been promising.

"AJ underwent successful reconstructive elbow surgery in Sydney a fortnight ago and has been recovering well," said Jones.

"We expect AJ will be unavailable as a bowler for three to four months.

"His availability in the BBL will be reviewed in the second half of the tournament."

It's a second serious injury blow for the Scorchers with Jason Behrendorff already sidelined for the summer after he opted for back surgery.

Nathan Coulter-Nile has departed the club for the Melbourne Stars this season and batter Shaun Marsh has moved to the Melbourne Renegades, but the Scorchers will still boast a formidable pace attack, although their depth will be tested.

Firebrand Jhye Richardson will lead the pace attack as he continues to impress following his comeback from a shoulder injury last March, with the likes of Joel Paris and Matthew Kelly also on the books.

Rising star Cameron Green is expected to be available to bowl in the Big Bash but is currently playing as a batsman only as he manages a back complaint but continues to impress in first-class and one-day cricket for the state.

Tye's injury occurred during a routine fielding drill with a seemingly innocuous throw. Tye confided he felt something 'pop' but wasn't in any immediate pain and later bowled in the nets during the same training session.

"It was one of the first handful of throws he did in a high intensity drill, which required 100 per cent throwing," Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch said ahead of the first Gillette T20 International against Sri Lanka.

"He was just a little bit off-balance and I think it was a bit of side-arm, slingy type throw and he just felt a bit of a pop in there."

Tye was released by IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab last weekend as the tournament's trading window closed. He had been an AUD$1.4m buy for the franchise at the 2018 auction.

Having taken 24 wickets at 18.66 and an economy rate of 8 during the 2018 IPL season, Tye endured a difficult 2019 in India, bowling 22 overs for three wickets, with an economy rate of 10.59.

He took 21 wickets last summer for the Scorchers in BBL|08, going for a touch under nine runs per over, and had regained form in taking 15 wickets while conceding 7.56 runs playing for Gloucestershire in England's T20 competition before joining the Australia team.